U.S. Amateur Public Links
The Orchards Golf Club will play host to the 77th United States Amateur Public Links Championship on Monday, July 15 to Saturday, July 20, 2002.

The United States Golf Association

Historical Notes

The U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship has been an unqualified success since its inceptions in 1922, giving exposure to many public-course players who otherwise might not have an opportunity to compete in a national championship.

The championship's prime mover was James D. Standish Jr., of Detroit, who convinced his colleagues on the 1922 USGA Executive Committee that the time was right for such a grass-roots competition. Standish pointed to the public-course golfer, whose ranks were swelling following World War I, and to the growing number of municipal and daily-fee courses in America.

The first championship was conducted at the Ottawa Park Course in Toledo, Ohio. The USGA had no way of knowing how many players to expect, but a satisfying 140 entries were received. Less than half that number wore golf shoes. The first champion was Eddie Held of St. Louis, who joined a private club soon after his victory and thus become ineligible to defend his title in 1923.

The Amateur Public Links Championship differs from other amateur competitions in that qualifiers may accept money for round-trip travel and a modest per diem for living expenses during the championship.

In 1923, the first team championship was conducted at the same time as the individual competition. East Potomac Park in Washington, D.C., was selected as the site, causing a great deal of excitement in the nation's capitol.

President Warren G. Harding, a golf enthusiast, donated the team trophy. Harding wanted to enter the championship himself, but time didn't permit, and besides, he was a member of at least one private club, which would preclude his entry.

That those earliest championships drew upward of 18 teams representing cities from coast to coast was a tribute to the spread of public-course golf in America. From the initial entry of 140 players, today's annual entry has surged to a massive 6,000 competitors or more. From time to time, thought has been given to establishing a handicap limit to control the number of entries.

The championship continues to attract bus drivers, bartenders, firemen, waiters, riveters, engineers, and college professors. It has also been a springboard for the likes of U.S. Open champions Ed Furgol, Tommy Bolt, and Ken Venturi; British Open champion Tony Lema; PGA champions Dave Marr and Bobby Nichols; and Masters winner George archer. In 1959, it produced the first black winner of a USGA championship in William A. Wright, who later became a teacher.

On Monday, July 15 through Saturday, July 20, 2002, the Orchards Golf Course plays host to the 77th annual U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship.

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Records

Age
Oldest Champion 48 — Verne Callison, 1967
Youngest Champion 18 — Les Bolstad, 1926
Youngest Finalist 15 — Joe Nichols, 1931

Champions
Most Championships Won
3 — Carl F. Kauffmann (1927, 28, 29)
Most Consecutive Championships Won
3 — Carl F. Kauffmann (1927, 28, 29)
Most Times in Final
4 — Carl F. Kauffmann (1926, 27, 28, 29)
Most Times Runner-Up
2 — William F. Serrick (1925, 27)

Course
Longest Course
7,127 yards — Edgewood Tahoe G.C., Stateline, Nev., 1980
Shortest Course
6,055 yards — Hershey Park G.C., Hershey, Pa., 1957
Most Times Host Club of Championship
3 — Coffin Municipal G.C., Indianapolis, Ind. (1935, 55, 72)
3 — Brown Deer Park G.C., Milwaukee, Wis. (1951, 66, 77)

Entries
Largest 6,257 (1992)
Smallest 103 (1925)

Match Play
Largest Winning Margin, 18-Hole Match
10 and 8 — Charles W. Thurn d. Robert W. Lichtenwalter, fourth round, Coffin Municipal G.C., Indianapolis, Ind., 1955
9 and 8 — Rodney Funseth d. Donald Hess, second round, Cedar Crest G.C., Dallas, Texas, 1954

Largest Winning Margin, Final
12 and 11 Jim Sorenson d. Jay Cooper, Wailua G.C., Lihue, Hawaii, 1985

Longest 18-Hole Match
25 holes — Clyde E Sniffen d. Hung Soo Ahn, first round, Haggin Oaks Municipal G.C., Sacramento, Calif., 1963

Longest 36-Hole Match
38 holes — Robert C. Clark d. Edward J. Furgol, semifinals, Rackham G.C., Detroit, Mich., 1940; Avery Beck d. Benjamin J. Hughes, semifinals, Meadowbrook G.C., Minneapolis, Minn., 1947; Dean Wilson, Jr., d. Arne Dokka, semifinals, Francis A. Gross G.C., Minneapolis, Minn., 1964

Longest Final Match
37 holes — Carl F. Kauffmann d. William F. Serrick, Ridgewood G.L., Cleveland, Ohio, 1927; Frank Strafaci d. Joe Coria, Coffin Municipal G.C., Indianapolis, Ind., 1955; Randy Barenaba d. Alan Yamamoto, Wailua G.C., Lihue, Hawaii, 1975; Eddie Mudd d. Archie Dadian, Bunker Hills, G.C., Coon Rapids, Minn., 1976; Ralph Howe d. Kevin Johnson, Jackson Hole G. & T.C., Jackson, Wyo., 1988; Guy Yamamoto d. Chris Riley, Eagle Bend G.C., Bigfork, Mont., 1994

Final Match Between Foreign-Born Players
1988 — Tim Clark (South Africa) def. Ryuji Imada (Japan), Kearney Hill Golf Links, Lexington, Ky., 7 and 6 Stroke Play

Lowest Score, 9 holes
30 — Robert Gamez, Cog Hill G. & C.C. (Dubsdread Course), Lemont, Ill., 1989; Claude B. Rippy, Bethpage State Park Course (Black Course), Farmingdale, N.Y., 1936

Lowest Round
64 — Robert Gamez, second round Cog Hill G. & C.C. (Dubsdread Course), Lemont, Ill., 1989; Albert Ochoa, first round, Kearney Hill Golf Links, Lexington, Ky., 1997

Lowest First Round
64 — Albert Ochoa, first round, Kearney Hill Golf Links, Lexington, Ky., 1997

Lowest Second Round
64 — Robert Gamez, Cog Hill G. & C.C. (Dubsdread Course), Lemont, Ill., 1989

Most Times Medalist
3 — David Berganio (1991, 92, 93)

Lowest Medalist Score, 36 Holes
132 — Jim Carter, Indian Canyon G.C., Spokane, Wash., 1984

Lowest Third Round (No Longer Contested)
68 — Al B. Souza Jr., Coffin Municipal G.C., Indianapolis, Ind., 1972

Lowest Fourth Round (No Longer Contested)
66 — Richard Ehrmanntraut, Coffin Municipal G.C., Indianapolis, Ind., 1972

Miscellaneous
Holes-In-One
(Note: hole-in-one records were not kept before 1982.)
Galen Cole, 204-yard fourth hole, Eagle Creek G.C., Indianapolis, Ind., 1982. Aaron Barber, 185-yard seventh hole, Eagle Bend G.C., Big Fork, Mont., 1994. Matthew Bryant, 185-yard 13th hole, Stow Acres C.C., Stow, Mass. (first round of stroke play), 1995

Double Eagle
James Sosinski, at the 538-yard, par-5, 14th hole at Eagle Creek G.C., Indianapolis, Ind., 1982. (He used a 6-iron for his second shot.)

Teams
Most Entries 55 (1938)

Fewest Entries 15 (1925)

Lowest Score (Three Players, 36 Holes)
418 — Phoenix at Indian Canyon Golf Course, Spokane, Wash., 1984

Most Team Victories
11 — Los Angeles (1933, 34, 38, 39, 46, 50, 60, 64, 80, 83, 92)

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FAQ'S

What is it?
The U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship brings together the nation's best amateur players who have established their handicaps with a public facility. The championship is commonly referred to as the APL Championship.

Who is eligible?
Entries are open to amateur golfers who since January 1 of the current year have been bona fide public course players with up-to-date USGA Handicap Indexes not exceeding 8.4 under the USGA Men's Handicap System.

How do you get in?
The competition is in three stages. First, enter a 36-hole sectional qualifier near your hometown. Qualify for the Championship as one of 156 players including exempt players. The Championship is broken into two stages - 36 hole stroke play and then six rounds of match play.

Will this be televised?
ESPN-2 and the Golf Channel are tentatively scheduled to televise the championship.

Are prizes awarded?
Since this is an amateur championship the prizes awarded are not monetary but for pride. The winner will receive a gold medal, custody of the James D. Standish, Jr. Cup for the ensuing year, and an invitation to the 2003 Masters. The runner-up will receive a silver medal and the other semi-finalists bronze medals.

What is the history behind the championship?
The U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship has been an unqualified success since its inception in 1922, giving exposure to many public-course players who otherwise might not have the opportunity to compete in a national championship.

The championship's prime mover was James D. Standish Jr., of Detroit, who convinced his colleagues on the 1922 USGA Executive Committee that the time was right for such a grass-roots competition. Standish pointed to the public-course golfer, who ranks were swelling following World War I, and to the growing number of municipal and daily-fee courses in America.

The championship continues to attract bus drivers, bartenders, firemen, waiters, riveters, engineers, and college professors. It has also been a springboard for the likes of U.S. Open champions Ed Furgol, Tommy Bolt, Ken Venturi; British Open champion Tony Lema; PGA champions Dave Marr and Bobby Nichols; and Masters winner George Archer. In 1959, it produced the first black winner of a USGA championship in William A. Wright, who later became a teacher.

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